National Institute of Education
G.C.E (Advanced Level)
Information & Communication Technology
Syllabus
Grade 12 & 13
(Implemented with effect from 2009)
Department of Information Technology
Faculty of Science & Technology
National Institute of Education
1
1.0 Introduction Information and Communication Technology has been identified worldwide as a tool that can be used to improve productivity,
efficiency and effectiveness of organizational work and the daily activities of individuals. Therefore, providing an adequate level
of ICT knowledge and skills, at different levels of education, is important for the students to progress and contribute towards
national development.
The current Sri Lankan Secondary Education System has been substantially exposed to ICT through various programmes
including CAL, ICT for GCE (O/L) and GIT at grade 12. Consequently, students have shown a growing interest in ICT education
and some have, in fact, performed excellently at international competitions in ICT, proving their high level of competence.
At present there is no main subject area under ICT for GCE (A/L). Therefore, GCE (O/L) qualified students, interested in
developing their career path in ICT, are deprived of the opportunity of learning it at the GCE (A/L). Introducing ICT as a subject
for A/L would set a national standard in ICT education at school level and provide the path to higher education at tertiary level.
Furthermore, students who fail to earn a placement in a university would be in possession of a substantial foundation to build up
their academic and professional careers.
The ICT syllabus at GCE (A/L) communicates core concepts of ICT covering both theoretical and practical usage of ICT .This
will also strengthen student’s awareness of the new trends and future directions of ICT, while encouraging them to inculcate
basic skills needed to carry out research at higher education level and to apply such knowledge practically. Also this subject
will provide an added advantage to students by improving their soft skills, thereby enabling them to best fit into working
environments.
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2.0 Objectives of the Subject
• Establish the foundation for ICT education leading to higher education
• Provide students with ICT knowledge that can be applied in other fields
• Provide students with ICT knowledge to improve the quality of life in general
• Improve the skills required for the development of ICT based solutions for real world problems.
• Provide awareness of the importance of computer networking for communication.
• Provide awareness of the new trends and future directions of ICT.
• Enable students to use ICT for innovation and researches.
• Develop an appreciation of the role of ICT in a knowledge-based society.
3
Proposed Term-based Breakdown of the Syllabus
Grade Term Competency &Competency Levels
1st Term
Competency Levels 1.1 to 1.4 (16 Competency Levels) Competency Levels 3.1 to 3.4 Competency Levels 4.1 to 4.3 Competency Levels 7.1 to 7.3 Competency Levels 11.1 to 11.2
2nd Term
Competency Levels 1.5 to 1.7 (20 Competency Level) Competency Levels 2.1 to 2.3 Competency Levels 6.1 to 6.4 Competency Levels 7.4 to 7.6 Competency Levels 9.1 to 9.5 Competency Levels 11.3 to 11.4
12
3rd Term
Competency Levels 12.1 to 12.3 (15 Competency Levels) Competency Levels 8.1 to 8.2 Competency Levels 10.1 to 10.2 Competency Levels 7.7 to 7.9 Competency Levels 11.5 to 11.7 Competency Levels 9.6 to 9.7
1st Term
Competency Levels 10.3 to 10.4 (17 Competency Levels) Competency Levels 5.1 to 5.3 Competency Levels 11.8 to 11.9 Competency Levels 7.10 to 7.11 Competency Levels 8.3 to 8.8 Competency Levels 9.8 to 9.9
2nd Term
Competency Levels 10.5 to 10.7 (17 Competency Levels) Competency Levels 7.12 to 7.14 Competency Levels 8.9 to 8.12 Competency Levels 9.10 to 9.11 Competency Levels 13.1 to 13.5
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3rd Term
Competency Levels 10.8 to 10.9 (9 Competency Levels) Competency Levels 7.15 to 7.16 Competency Levels 8.13 to 8.15 Competency Levels 14.1 to 14.2
4
3.0 Syllabus for Information and Communication Technology G.C.E Advanced Level 2009
Competency Competency level Content Periods
1.1 Investigates the basic building blocks of information and their characteristics.
o Data Data and its existence in multi-media form Characteristics of data Manipulating data
o Information and knowledge Creating information Characteristics of information Quality of information Value of information Relevance of information Knowledge
05 Competency 1: Explores the basic concepts of ICT together with its role and applicability in today’s knowledge based society.
1.2 Investigates the need of technology to create, disseminate and manage data and information.
o Drawbacks of manual methods in manipulating data and information in bulk Slowness Unreliability Inaccuracy
o Emergence of IT era Realizing the importance of information in
daily life Availability of electronic and other
technologies o Merging of information technology and
communication technology Development of the Internet and the WWW Development of mobile computing and
communication devices
05
5
Competency Competency level Content Periods
1.3 Creates an abstract model of information and evaluates its compliance with ICT.
o Abstract model of information Input, Process, Output
o Time value of information Highest value of information
o Computer and its appropriateness to ICT
04
1.4 Selects and classifies the basic components of a computer system.
o Hardware, Software and Firmware o Classification of Hardware o Classification of Software o Proprietary software and Open-source
software
05
1.5 Analyses the activities of Data Processing Life Cycle.
o Data gathering methods Manual methods Automatic methods
• OMR, OCR, MICR, Card/Tape Magnetic stripe readers
• Sensors and Loggers o Data validation methods
Type check, Presence check, Range check
Use of check digits o Modes of data input
Direct and Remote Online and Offline
o Data verification o Data processing
Batch and real time o Storage methods o Output methods
05
6
Competency Competency level Content Periods
1.6 Investigates the use of ICT in different field of applications in organizations.
o Working practices Presentations Telecommuting Video conferencing
o ICT in advertising Product advertising Business advertising Service advertising
o ICT in teaching and learning Computer aided learning Computer based learning Computer based assessments
05
1.7 Evaluates the impact of ICT on the society.
o ICT and other technologies o Benefits created by ICT
Social, Economical o Issues created by ICT
Social Economical Environmental Ethical Legal
• Privacy and Piracy • Copyright • Plagiarism • Licensed software
05
7
Competency Competency level Content Periods
2.1 Elicits the significant changes occurred in the computers from generation to generation with more emphasis on the evolution of processors.
o History of computing Early calculating aids
• Mechanical calculators/computers • Electromechanical computers
Electronic age of computing Different classifications
• Analog, Digital • 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and Future
Generations • Mainframe, Mini, Micro • PDAs, Mobile Devices
o Towards Modern Computers Evolution of Micro Processors
• Semiconductor Technology • Logic Families & Processor Families • Processor Specifications
No. of Transistors Buses CPU Speed Number of Registers Cache memories
05
Competency 2: Explores the evolution of computers so as to be able to describe and compare the performance of a modern computer.
2.2 Explores the functionality of a computer in relation to the evolution of hardware and interfaces.
o Major Hardware Components Input Devices and Interfaces CPU and Motherboard Output Devices and Interfaces Storage Devices and Interfaces
05
8
Competency Competency level Content Periods
2.3 Explores the evolution of computer architectures.
o von-Neumann Architecture Stored Program Control concept Input, Output, Memory, Control Unit and
Processing Unit Fetch-execute cycle Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) • Control Unit (CU)
Memory o Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)
Part of the CPU visible to the programmer Instruction format and Word length Addressing and Address Space Instruction types and types of operations
o CISC and RISC Architectures
05
3.1 Analyses how numeric data are represented in computers.
o Decimal representation of numbers (Signed and Unsigned) Integers Fixed Point and Floating-Point numbers
o Number systems used in computing Binary, Octal, Hexa-decimal
o Conversions among number systems
05 Competency 3: Investigates how data are represented in computers and exploits them in arithmetic and logic operations. 3.2 Analyses how character data are
represented in computers.
o BCD o EBCDIC o ASCII o Unicode
04
9
Competency Competency level Content Periods
3.3 Uses basic arithmetic and logic operations on Binary, Octal and Hexa-decimal numbers.
o Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division o Bitwise logic operations
05
3.4 Analyses how signed numbers are represented in computers and uses standard methods to represent floating point numbers.
o One’s complement and Two’s complement o Representing floating point numbers in
normalized form o IEEE 754, 32 bit single precision
representation of floating point numbers
05
4.1 Analyzes basic digital logic gates in terms of their unique functionalities.
o Digital Logic Gates and Truth Tables Basic logic gates
• NOT, OR, AND, XOR Combinational
• NOR, NAND, XNOR
04
Competency 4: Uses Logic Gates to design basic Digital Circuits and Devices in Computers.
4.2 Simplifies logic expressions using laws of Boolean Algebra and Karnaugh Map method.
o Two state logic and Boolean Algebra o Postulates (Axioms) o Laws/Theorems
Commutative, Associative, Distributive Identity, Redundancy De Morgan’s
o Standard Logical Expressions Sum of Products & Product of Sums Transform SOP into POS and vice versa
o Simplify logic expressions using Boolean theorems Karnaugh Maps
05
10
Competency Competency level Content Periods
4.3 Designs simple digital circuits and devices using logic gates.
o Truth tables and logic expressions. (up to four inputs)
o Digital circuit design
05
5.1 Examines PC memory system to identify different type of memories and their main characteristics.
o Volatile Memories and their characteristics Registers Cache Memory Main Memory – RAM
o Non Volatile Memories and their characteristics Secondary Storage
• Magnetic, Optical, Flash Memory ROM
• BIOS, CMOS
05
Competency 5: Uses Memory Management to improve performance of a Computer.
5.2 Distinguishes between different type of memories.
o Comparison Criteria
Physical size/Density Access method Access time Capacity Cost
04
11
Competency Competency level Content Periods
5.3 Organizes memory in order to improve performance of computers.
o Memory Organization Early memory organizations Memory hierarchy
o Maintenance of secondary storage Disk Cleaning Disk Checking Disk De-fragmentation Virtual Memory Management
05
Competency 6: Uses Operating Systems to manage the overall functionality of computers.
6.1 Defines the term computer Operating System (OS) and investigates their need in computer systems.
o Introduction to computer Operating Systems Booting of computer
o Classification Single user – single task Single user – multi task Multi user – multi task Multi threading Real time
o Need for an Operating System Interface between user and the machine Hardware control and software
management Virtual Machines
04
12
Competency Competency level Content Periods
6.2 Explores how an OS manages directories and files in computers.
o File types ASCII Text, Binary, Formatted and Other
o File operations Create, open and close Read, write and attribute change Rename, copy, move and delete Merge
o File Security Passwords and Access privileges
o Directory and file organization o File Storage management
File control block Block based organization Index allocation Fragmentation FAT, NTFS
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6.3 Explores how an OS manages Processes in computers.
o Process management Multi programming systems Time sharing systems
o Processor utilization o Process states o Process scheduling
05
13
Competency Competency level Content Periods
6.4 Explores how an OS manages memory and input & output operations in computers.
o Memory management Memory allocation Swapping, fragmentation and compaction Garbage collection Protecting processes Virtual memory
• Paging, Mapping o Input output device management
Managing events o Hardware software interaction
Device drivers
05
7.1 Uses problem-solving process. o Understanding the problem o Define the problem, Define boundaries o Plan solution o Check solution
04
7.2 Uses Top-down/Stepwise refinement methodology to solve problems.
o Modularization and Mash ups o Top down design and stepwise refinement o Structure charts
05
Competency 7: Uses Programming Languages to program computers to solve problems.
7.3 Uses algorithmic approach to solve problems.
o Algorithms o Flow charts o Pseudo codes o Hand traces
05
14
Competency Competency level Content Periods
7.4 Examines the process of program translation and execution and uses translators to translate source codes into machine codes.
o Source program o Object program o Program Translators
Interpreters Compilers Binary code and Byte code Assemblers
o Linkers o Executable code
04
7.5 Explores Integrated Development Environments (IDE) to identify their basic features.
o Basic features of IDEs o Instructions to use
Opening and Saving files Compiling, Executing programs Debugging programs
05
7.6 Uses the lexical elements of a programming language in programming.
o Comments o The role of constants and variables o Data Types
Primitive Objective
o Operator Categories Arithmetical, Relational, Logical, Bitwise Precedence
05
15
Competency Competency level Content Periods
7.7 Uses control structures in developing programs.
o Sequence o Selection
Simple selection Multiple selection
o Iteration Counter controlled Logic controlled
o Selective/Iterative controls Break, Continue
05
7.8 Uses libraries and services in Programs.
o Standard library System module OS module
o Access of service routines
05
7.9 Uses functions in programs. o Functions Structure of a function Pre-made functions Return values Command line arguments User defined functions
o Function parameters Parameter passing Local and global parameters Default argument values Keyword arguments
05
16
Competency Competency level Content Periods
7.10 Compares and Contrasts different programming paradigms.
o Evolution of programming languages 1GL, 2GL, 3GL and 4GL
o Features of Imperative High-Level languages o Programming Approaches
Unstructured Structured (Functional/Procedural) Object Oriented
06
7.11 Uses modules in programs.
o Modularization Reusability User defined
o Creating modules o Importing modules
06
7.12 Explores main features of Object Oriented Programming.
o Objects o Classes
Methods and attributes o Encapsulation o Generalization o Abstraction o Inheritance o Polymorphism
06
7.13 Uses data structures in programs.
o Need for data structures o Examples of data structures o Single dimensional data structures
Index Basic operations
06
17
Competency Competency level Content Periods
7.14 Handles files and databases in programs.
o Basic file operations • Open, close • Read and write
o Basic database operations • Select • Insert • Update • Delete
06
7.15 Handles exceptional situations that occur in programs.
o Type of Exceptions o Exceptions handling
06
7.16 Searches and sorts data. o Searching techniques Sequential search Binary Search
o Sorting techniques Selection sort Bubble sort
06
Competency 8: Explores the use of Data Communication & Computer Network Technologies for effective communication of data & voice and resource sharing.
8.1 Develops an abstract model for communication using logical components.
o Introduction to data communication o Components of a data communication system
Transmitter, Receiver Communication medium Protocols
• Synchronization, Acknowledgement Signals
• Analog, Digital o Representation of data in signal form
04
18
Competency Competency level Content Periods
8.2 Compares and contrasts manual communication methods with modern communication methods to ascertain the necessity of current technologies.
o Manual methods o Electronic and computer based methods
Telephone Radio, TV Satellite ISDN, ADSL/DSL, CDMA, GPRS, GSM
05
8.3 Investigates data transmission methodologies for effective communication.
o Data transmission and reception o Carrier signals o Basic modulation techniques
Analog - AM, FM, PM Digital – ASK, FSK, PSK
o Digital to analog conversion MODEM
o Analog to digital conversion PCM, CODEC
o Basic Digital Encoding Methods
05
8.4 Explores multiplexing techniques for media sharing.
o Need for multiplexing o Introduction to Multiplexing
Frequency Division Multiplexing Time Division Multiplexing Code Division Multiplexing
04
19
Competency Competency level Content Periods
8.5 Selects appropriate transmission media for data communication.
o Guided media Open wire, Twisted pair, Coaxial cable Fiber Optics
IEEE standard notation for cables o Unguided media
Radio VHF/UHF, Microwave (Terrestrial/Satellite) Infrared Laser
05
8.6 Analyzes transmission impairments to improve efficiency and quality of data transmission.
o Distortion Causes and remedies
o Attenuation Causes and remedies
o Noise Types Reduction methods
04
8.7 Compares benefits and issues of computer networks.
o Introduction to computer networks o Advantages and disadvantages
04
20
Competency Competency level Content Periods
8.8 Selects computer network types, topologies and models that matches different needs and environments.
o Definition of computer networks o Network Types
LAN, WAN, MAN, DAN, CAN o LAN Topologies
Bus, Star, Ring, Mesh, Hybrid o Network models
Peer to peer Client-server
o Virtual Private Networks o Testing methods
Ping and ipconfig
05
8.9 Uses Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layered protocol architecture as a reference model for networking.
o Open systems versus Closed systems OSI seven layer reference model
• Physical layer • Data link layer • Network layer • Transport layer • Session layer • Presentation layer • Application layer
o Basic functions of each layer
05
8.10 Explores basic devices, and protocols used in networks.
o Network devices used and their basic functions. Repeaters, Regenerators Hubs, Bridges and Switches Routers and Gateways
o Basic protocols Ethernet-IEEE 802.3 (CSMA/CD) Token ring – IEEE 802.5 IP, TCP, UDP, ICMP FTP, SMTP, POP, PPP, Telnet
05
21
Competency Competency level Content Periods
8.11 Explores the basic principles of Client-Server computing.
o Client-server configuration Clients Servers
• Web servers, Mail servers • Proxy servers, Application servers • DNS servers • DHCP servers
Leased lines, ISPs, Gateways
05
8.12 Explores the addressing schemes used in networks.
o Use of Physical address and Logical address o IP addressing (IPv-4)
Network classes • Class A, Class B, Class C
Subnets o Subnet masks
05
8.13 Explores the structure and technology of the Internet and World Wide Web and their services.
o The Internet Network of networks Hosts, ISPs, Backbone, Bandwidth Coverage and features TCP/IP protocol and Intranets Packet transmission, switching and routing Uniform Resource Locators Cookies Internet Engineering Task Force
o Services provided o The World Wide Web
HTTP and Hyper media Technological Perspective Web browsers Newsgroups, Portals, Blogs, VOIP World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
05
22
Competency Competency level Content Periods
8.14 Explores the vulnerabilities and possible threats & attacks to computer networks.
o Common vulnerabilities o Threats
Spoofing Tampering Repudiation Information disclosure Denial of service Elevation of privilege Phishing Port scan
o Attacks Hackers and crackers Espionage Eavesdropping Man in the middle attacks IP session hijacking
o Malware Viruses, Worms, Hoxes, Trojans, Spams
and Spyware
05
8.15 Secures networks and Information from attack to ensure safety and smooth operation.
o Strong physical security measures o Introduction to software enabled security
Encrypted communication • Public-key and digital signatures
Anti-virus software Firewalls and proxy servers Patches and updates Authentication, Passwords/Passphrases Access control Disable unused interfaces Honey pots and sugarcanes
05
23
Competency Competency level Content Periods
9.1 Compares and contrasts different types of database models in terms of their features.
o Database Systems Flat file system Hierarchical Model Network Model Relational Model Object Relational Model
o Database Systems vs. File Systems
05
9.2 Illustrates the main components of the relational database model.
o Relations/Tables Atomicity constraints Key Constraints Access by Content Constraints
o Attributes/Columns o Tuples / Rows o Relationships
05
9.3 Explores the ANSI SPARC three level architecture and examines the internal process of a database.
o External Schema o Logical Schema o Physical Schema o Mapping
External conceptual mapping Conceptual physical mapping
o Data independence Logical Physical
04
Competency 9: Designs and develops database systems to manage data efficiently and effectively.
9.4 Analyzes the main components of a database system.
o Databases Raw data Indexes Meta data
o Data Base Management Systems DBMS kernel Design tools sub system Runtime tools sub system Embedded Programming Language
o Application Programs
05
24
Competency Competency level Content Periods
9.5 Investigates the Database Design framework to design and develop a database.
o Designing Phases Requirement Analysis
• Data gathering methods • Functional requirements • Data requirements
Conceptual design Logical design Physical design
05
9.6 Designs the conceptual schema of a database.
o ER diagrams Entities, Attributes and Entity sets Entity Identifiers Relationships and Relationship sets
• Cardinality • Degree
05
9.7 Designs the logical schema of a database.
o Database Schema Design Relational schema Relation instances Candidate Key Primary Key Alternate Key Foreign Key
o Relational data integrity Domain Reference Entity
05
25
Competency Competency level Content Periods
9.8 Transforms ER diagrams to logical schema.
o Entity Transformation o Attribute Transformation o Relationship Transformation
04
9.9 Normalizes database schema to improve performance.
o Functional dependencies Partial dependency Transitive dependency
o Modification Abnormalities Insert Update Delete
o Zero normal form o First normal form o Second normal form o Third normal form
05
9.10 Uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to create and manage data in a database.
o DDL o DCL o VDL
05
9.11 Uses SQL to manipulate data in a database.
o DML Features in SQL Select Query Insert Query Update Query Delete Query
05
Competency 10: Develops websites incorporating multi-media technologies.
10.1 Explores different types of web pages available in the web to get acquainted with their content and structure.
o The World Wide Web (WWW) o Types of Web Sites
Information, News Personal, Educational, Commercial Web portals
05
26
Competency Competency level Content Periods
10.2 Analyzes the structure and the composition of websites to organize pages and content.
o Contents of a website Home page Link pages
o Building blocks of a web page Text, Graphics, Audio, Visuals Hyperlink
o Organization of contents Formats, Frames, Lists, Tables
05
10.3 Uses HTML to create web pages.
o Introduction to Hypertext Markup Language o HTML Standards o HTML Extensions o Insert basic objects to a web page
Text, Graphics, Audio-visuals, Animation
05
10.4 Uses advanced features in HTML to enhance web pages.
o Organize objects using advanced features Create Lists, Tables, Frames, Add Formats
o Linking multiple web contents Tags, Pages, Multimedia objects
05
10.5 Uses a visual web authoring tool to develop web pages.
o Introduction to IDE o Insert basic objects to a web page o Linking multiple web contents o Organize objects using advanced features
Image Maps, Counters, Forms, CSS
05
10.6 Writes scripts to create interactive web sites.
o Variables o Procedures o Forms
05
10.7 Uses advanced features of scripting to handle stored data.
o Sessions o Database Controls
05
27
Competency Competency level Content Periods
10.8 Uses basic features of a semi structured programming language (XML) for web page development.
o Syntax o Elements o Attributes
04
10.9 Publishes and maintains web sites.
o Local Publishing o Intranet Publishing o Connecting to the Web Provider o Publishing web pages on a web server o Factors affecting website performance o Internet and WWW standardization activities.
05
11.1 Explores Characteristics of Systems.
o Systems concept o Classification of systems
Natural systems • Living and physical systems
Man-made systems
02 Competency 11: Explores the systems concept and uses Structured System Analysis and design Methodology (SSADM) in developing Information Systems.
11.2 Compares and contrasts different types of manmade systems in terms of their objectives and functionality.
o Information Systems o Automated Systems
Office Automation Systems (OAS) Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)
o Management Support Systems Management Information System (MIS) Decision-Support Systems (DSS) Executive Support System (ESS)
o Geographical Information Systems (GIS) o Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) o Content Management Systems (CMS) o Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
(ERPS) o Expert Systems o Embedded Systems
04
28
Competency Competency level Content Periods
11.3 Explores different information systems development models and methods.
o Information systems Models Waterfall Spiral Unified development Rapid Applications Development
o Systems development methodologies Structured Object oriented
04
11.4 Examines the Structured System Analysis and Design methodology.
o SSADM o Phases of the System Development Life Cycle
04
11.5 Investigates the need for a new information system and its feasibility.
o Preliminary Investigation Identifying the problems in the current
system Suggesting alternate solutions Prioritizing Information Systems needs
o Feasibility Study Technical feasibility Economical feasibility Operational feasibility Organizational feasibility
05
29
Competency Competency level Content Periods
11.6 Uses vivid methods to analyze the current system.
o Requirements Functional Requirements Non functional requirements
o Analytical Tools Activity diagrams Document flow diagrams Data flow diagrams for current system
o Business system options
05
11.7 Designs the proposed system. o Logical Design Data flow diagrams for proposed system Architectural design Logical data structures
o Process specification o Data dictionary o Interface design
05
11.8 Develops and tests the proposed system.
o Program Coding o Testing
Test cases White box testing Black box testing Unit testing Integrated testing System testing Acceptance testing
05
11.9 Implements the developed system.
o Implementation Parallel Direct Pilot Phase
o Review, Support and Maintenance
04
30
Competency Competency level Content Periods
12.1 Explores the role of ICT in the world of business.
o Digital economy New business methods in digital economy
• Reverse Auctions • Group purchasing • e-Marketplace
o Pure brick, brick and click, and pure click organizations
o Business functions and the role of IT Accounting and IT Human Resource and IT Production and IT Marketing & sales and IT Supply chain management and IT Business communication and IT
05 Competency 12: Explores applicability of ICT to today’s business organizations and the competitive marketplace.
12.2 Analyses the relationship between ICT and business operations.
o e-Commerce and e-Business The scope of eCommerce and e-Business Types of e-Business transactions B2B, B2C, C2C, C2B, B2E, G2C
o e-Business Virtual Storefronts Information Brokers Online Marketplace Content Provider Online Service Provider Portal Virtual Community
o Advantages and disadvantages of e-Business
05
31
Competency Competency level Content Periods
12.3 Analyses the IT means of generating and delivering an improved products and services to consumers..
o e-Marketing Philosophy of marketing Web advertising Use of information technology in
customization o Database marketing
Predicting customer behaviour with AI tools and techniques
Gaining competitive advantages through IT
05
13.1 Explores new trends and future directions in computing.
o Intelligent and emotional computing o Artificial Intelligence o Kansei systems o Man-machine coexistence
04
13.2 Explores the fundamentals and applications of Agent Technology.
o Software Agents o Multi-Agent systems o Applications of Agent systems
04
13.3 Explores the fundamentals and major applications of Evolutionary computing.
o Evolutionary computing o Computing in biological systems o Fundamentals of Genetic Algorithms o Applications of evolutionary computing
04
Competency 13: Explores new trends and future directions of ICT.
13.4 Explores the concept of Ubiquitous computing.
o Ubiquitous computing o Technologies for ubiquitous computing o Applications of Ubiquitous computing
04
13.5 Analyzes the existing models of computing and propose new models.
o Beyond von-Neumann computer o Nature inspired computing o Fundamentals of Quantum Computing o Applications
04
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Competency Competency level Content Periods
14.1 Conducts projects on designing Information systems.
Phase I : Definition of Information Systems Guide lines 1. Project formulation including initial
reading/study, discussion with teacher to decide on the project
2. Prototype Design and Implementation 3. Demonstration and Presentation during the
Second Semester (Grading)
Competency 14: Designs and Implements a simple Information System as the Project.
14.2 Implements and demonstrates the Information System.
Phase II : Guide lines 1. Full Implementation of the Project Approved in
Phase I 2. Presentation and Demonstration
One period per week for a
duration of one year
33
4.0 Learning Teaching process Information and Communication Technology is not only a dynamic subject, it is also a living subject. It is necessary to update one’s
knowledge in order to be alert to the latest findings in this area. ICT has taken such an important position that the percentage of literacy in
ICT has come to be regarded as an index of development. It is essential that the proposed method of teaching should be student-centred
as this subject is essentially practice-oriented. In view of the fact that this is an essentially practical subject it is vital that a student is
involved in self study apart from the day to day learning- teaching process in order to ensure that subject matter learned is firmly grasped.
There is need for special attention to be paid to the encouragement of the student for self-study. Further, just as much as knowledge,
attitudes and skills, as well as social values, legal constraints related to the subject carry with them the imperatives of a sense and spirit of
self-discipline. It is essential that the learning-teaching evaluation process is so organized as to highlight the importance of computer use.
The global trend in present day education is to introduce competency based curricula which promote collaborative learning through student
centred activities where learning predominates teaching. It is intended for the students to actively participate in activities which enhance the
development of individual social and mental skills. The following aspects are emphasized.
1. It is advised to cover the content through 5E-model activities as far as possible.
2. Allow the students to acquire hands on experience through self directed activities.
3. Direct students to acquire knowledge and information through reliable sources wherever necessary.
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5.0 School Policies and Programmes
It needs to be noted at the onset, that the success of the classroom learning-teaching process has an immense bearing on the effective
actualization of the expected aims of the subject Information and Communication Technology. Therefore, it is important that the school
policy and programs are organized in keeping with these expectations. It is important, in the achievement of the aims of this subject, that
the novelty of the subject and the consequent paucity of knowledge regarding this subject in student, should be taken into consideration.
The number of periods available for this subject a year, is 300. Plans have been so drawn as to provide 241 periods for competencies and
the rest for practical sessions. Included here proposed is a list of practicals in this regard. Accordingly, fifty nine periods have been
assigned for practicals in Grade 12 and seventy periods in Grade 13. Apart from the above, 30 periods are set apart, spread throughout the
year, for the Project in Grade 13.
Practical sessions are so important, as student should know how to apply what they have learnt and experienced through out this learning
activities. In order to acquire a main competency as included in the syllabus students are required to practice some graded exercises
followed by one or more real world applications.
Students have to maintain an activity log book to record their activities done during this practical session and should be presented to the
teacher in charge to maintain its correctness and consistency.
The individual project to be assigned in Grade 13 will have not to be carried out during the normal classroom sessions. Thirty periods,
however, will be devoted for teacher led discussions plus practicals at different stages of the project. For the success of this activity which
comprises only individual practical works, arrangement will have to be made for the students to use the computer laboratory even outside
the timetabled sessions.
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6.0 Assessment and Evaluation It is intended to implement this syllabus in schools with the School Based Assessment (SBA) process. Teachers will prepare creative
teaching-learning instruments on the basis of school terms.
The first examination under this syllabus will be held in 2011.
The details together with the format and the nature of questions will be introduced by the Department of Examinations.